A teleprompter for Zoom and webinars.
Reading notes on a video call almost always shows — the eyes give it away. Here's the setup pros actually use to stay on script and on-camera during a Zoom or webinar, plus how to record the session so you don't lose it.
The honest constraint
A teleprompter app runs fullscreen, and a Zoom call wants the screen too. Trying to do both on a single device is awkward. So the setup that actually works is two devices: the call on one, the script on another, positioned so reading the script still points your eyes at the camera. The good news is it's simple and cheap — you already own the second device.
The two-device setup that works
- Run the call on your computer (or tablet), with its webcam as the camera your audience sees.
- Put the script on your iPhone, propped on a small stand directly beneath the webcam, as close to the lens line as you can get it.
- Read from the phone. Because it's right under the webcam, your eyes stay on the lens, and to everyone on the call you're looking straight at them.
- Scroll hands-free. Use voice-tracked scrolling so you're not tapping the phone mid-sentence, or drive it from an Apple Watch.
The same fundamentals as any prompter apply here: keep the column narrow, sit back a little, and match the scroll to your natural pace. More on keeping eye contact while reading.
If you're recording the webinar to share
Plenty of "webinars" are really pre-recorded lessons or talks you'll edit and post later. If that's you, record it properly on the iPhone rather than relying on a screen-recorder of a live call: you get a clean, lens-locked take at full quality. And use a recorder that writes to disk as it captures — a 40-minute session is precisely the kind of take you never want to lose to a crash or a dropped connection. Here's why that matters.
Recording lessons this way gives you voice-tracked reading, captions for accessibility (SRT/VTT for your course platform), and a take that's safe the moment you start. More on NexCam for online teaching.
Frequently asked
Can I use a teleprompter during a live Zoom call?
Yes — run Zoom on your computer and put the script on your iPhone right under the webcam. Reading from a phone at the lens line keeps your eyes on camera. One device for both the call and a fullscreen prompter is awkward, so two devices is the practical setup.
How do I keep eye contact while reading notes?
Get the text as close to the lens as possible, sit back a bit, and keep the column narrow so your eyes barely move. The closer the script is to the lens, the more you appear to look at your audience.
How do I record a webinar without losing it?
Use a recorder that writes to disk as it captures and can recover an interrupted session, not one that only saves when you stop. Long sessions are the ones you least want to lose.